Communication methods and apparatus

ABSTRACT

Methods and apparatus well suited for efficiently communicating small amounts of information relatively frequently in a wireless communications system are described. An uplink timing frequency structure for an access point includes a set of dedicated uplink communications resources, e.g., expression advertisement interval air link resources. Different ones of the set of dedicated uplink communications resources correspond to different individual wireless communications devices currently registered with the access point. In the downlink timing frequency structure for the access point there are dedicated downlink broadcast communications resources, e.g., expression broadcast interval air link resources and neighbor expression broadcast interval air link resources. Information received on dedicated uplink air link resources is echoed back or selectively echoed back on the dedicated downlink air link resources. Wireless communications devices monitor downlink dedicated air link resources to recover expression information being communicated by other wireless communications devices in its local vicinity.

FIELD

Various embodiments relate to wireless communications, and moreparticularly, to methods and apparatus which can be used to communicatelow bit count data information transfers in a wireless communicationssystem.

BACKGROUND

Location-based applications such as “Loopt” running on mobiles in awide-area-network require frequent updates of very short messages to betransmitted by mobiles to the access point, e.g., base-station, in theuplink and by the access point to the mobiles in the downlink. Since thelocation updates are on the order of few tens of bits but must betransmitted and received every few seconds, it is very costly, in termsof control messaging overhead, to require that this information exchangetake place using the regular wide-area-network traffic channels. Inaddition to location updates, in various other types of applications,e.g., social networking applications utilizing localized peer to peercommunications for primary communications, there are also needs tocommunicate relatively small amounts of information relativelyfrequently in an efficient manner. For example, it may be advantageousto be able to communicate small amounts of peer discovery information ina local region in such a manner. While transmission of data by mobilesin what is known as an active state where mobiles have dedicatedresources including, e.g., data traffic channel resources, the number ofdevices that can be supported in an active state at any given time isrelatively limited. To increase the number of devices which can besupported WAN systems also normally support a sleep state in which adevice is not subject to closed loop timing and/or closed loop powercontrol and also lack dedicated traffic channel resources. In a typicalwide-area-network, there may be thousands of mobiles in a “sleep” stateat any given time. Mobiles in a sleep state normally lack dedicatedchannels for traffic data and normally must transition to the “active”state through a complex hand-shaking procedure in order to be assigneddedicated traffic channel resources prior to sending or receivingmeaningful data including very short messages of the type discussedabove. Thus, the overhead associated with sending short messages fordevices in a sleep state can be considerable due to the resourcesrequired to enable the transition to an active state.

Based on the above discussion there is a need for methods and apparatuswhich provide an efficient means of communicating small amount ofinformation frequently in a wireless communications system. It would beadvantageous if such methods did not require large amounts of signalingoverhead. In addition, it would be desirable if some methods andapparatus were scalable, e.g., capable of supporting implementationswith small numbers of users as well as implementations with largenumbers of users.

SUMMARY

Methods and apparatus well suited for efficiently communicating smallamounts of information relatively frequently in a wirelesscommunications system are described. In accordance with some aspects, anuplink timing frequency structure for an access point includes a set ofdedicated uplink communications resources, e.g., expressionadvertisement interval air link resources. Different ones of the set ofdedicated uplink communications resources correspond to differentindividual wireless communications devices currently registered with theaccess point. In the downlink timing frequency structure for the accesspoint there are dedicated downlink broadcast communications resources,e.g., expression broadcast interval air link resources. In someembodiments, the information received on the dedicated uplink air linkresources is echoed back on the dedicated downlink air link resources.In some embodiments, information received on the dedicated uplink airlink resources is selectively broadcast in the dedicated downlink airlink resources.

In some embodiments, information received in dedicated uplinkcommunications resources of one access point can be, and sometimes are,shared with another access point, e.g., a neighboring access point. Suchshared information, in some embodiments, is broadcast in dedicateddownlink air link resources, e.g., neighbor expression broadcastinterval air link resources.

Wireless communications devices monitor downlink dedicated air linkresources, e.g., expression broadcast intervals and/or neighborexpression broadcast intervals, to recover expression information beingcommunicated by other wireless communications devices currently in itslocal vicinity. In some embodiments, the expression information iswireless communications device position information.

An exemplary method of operating an access point, in accordance withsome embodiments, comprises: receiving a first set of information from aplurality of different wireless communications devices in dedicateduplink resources corresponding to individual wireless communicationsdevices, information from an individual wireless communications devicebeing received in a dedicated uplink resource corresponding to theindividual wireless communications device; and transmitting a firstportion of the received first set of information from the plurality ofdifferent wireless communications devices in dedicated downlinkbroadcast communications resources corresponding to the individualwireless communications devices. An exemplary access point, inaccordance with some embodiments, comprises at least one processorconfigured to: receive a first set of information from a plurality ofdifferent wireless communications devices in dedicated uplink resourcescorresponding to individual wireless communications devices, informationfrom an individual wireless communications device being received in adedicated uplink resource corresponding to the individual wirelesscommunications device; and transmit a first portion of the receivedfirst set of information from the plurality of different wirelesscommunications devices in dedicated downlink broadcast communicationsresources corresponding to the individual wireless communicationsdevices. The exemplary access point further includes memory coupled tosaid at least one processor.

An exemplary method of operating a wireless communications device, inaccordance with some embodiments, comprises: monitoring an expressionbroadcast interval to recover broadcast information transmitted by afirst access point corresponding to multiple wireless communicationsdevices; and processing the recovered broadcast information to determineif said recovered broadcast information includes informationcorresponding to an individual wireless communications device ofinterest. An exemplary wireless communications device, in accordancewith some embodiments, includes at least one processor configured to:monitor an expression broadcast interval to recover broadcastinformation transmitted by a first access point corresponding tomultiple wireless communications devices; and process the recoveredbroadcast information to determine if said recovered broadcastinformation includes information corresponding to an individual wirelesscommunications device of interest. The exemplary wireless communicationsdevice further includes memory coupled to said at least one processor.

While various embodiments have been discussed in the summary above, itshould be appreciated that not necessarily all embodiments include thesame features and some of the features described above are not necessarybut can be desirable in some embodiments. Numerous additional features,embodiments and benefits of various embodiments are discussed in thedetailed description which follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a drawing of an exemplary communications system in accordancewith an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2A is a first part of a flowchart of an exemplary method ofoperating access point in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2B is a second part of a flowchart of an exemplary method ofoperating access point in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a drawing of an exemplary access point, in accordance with anexemplary embodiment.

FIG. 4A is a first part of an assembly of modules which can, and in someembodiments is, used in the access point illustrated in FIG. 3.

FIG. 4B is a second part of an assembly of modules which can, and insome embodiments is, used in the access point illustrated in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an exemplary method of operating a firstwireless communications device in accordance with an exemplaryembodiment.

FIG. 6 is a drawing of an exemplary first wireless communicationsdevice, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an assembly of modules which can, and in some embodiments is,used in the first wireless communications device illustrated in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of an exemplary method of operating an accesspoint in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a drawing of an exemplary access point, in accordance with anexemplary embodiment.

FIG. 10 is an assembly of modules which can, and in some embodiments is,used in the access point illustrated in FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of an exemplary method of operating a wirelesscommunications device in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a drawing of an exemplary wireless communications device, inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 13 is an assembly of modules which can, and in some embodiments is,used in the wireless communications device illustrated in FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 includes a drawing of an exemplary wide area network uplinktiming frequency structure in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a drawing used to illustrate an exemplary embodiment in whicha wireless terminal has a paging identifier associated with paging airlink resources and a expression advertisement resource identifierassociated with expression advertisement air link resources, wherein theexpression advertisement resource identifier is local with respect to aparticular access point and the paging identifier applies to a pagingregion including a plurality of access point.

FIG. 16 is a drawing illustrating an access point, a plurality ofwireless terminals using the access point, an uplink expressionadvertisement interval and a corresponding downlink expression broadcastinterval, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 17 illustrates an exemplary expression advertisement air linkresources block and one or more corresponding expression broadcastinterval air link resources blocks in accordance with an exemplaryembodiment.

FIG. 18 illustrates an exemplary expression advertisement air linkresources block, a corresponding expression broadcast interval air linkresources block and a neighbor expression broadcast interval air linkresources block, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 19 is a drawing illustrating a signaling example in an exemplarycommunications system including a plurality of wireless terminals and aplurality of access points which use expression advertisement intervals,expression broadcast intervals, and neighbor expression broadcastintervals.

FIG. 20 is a drawing illustrating an access point, neighboring accesspoints of the access point, and timing structure information used by theaccess point and wireless terminals registered at the access point, thetiming structure information including an uplink expressionadvertisement interval, a downlink expression broadcast interval, and aplurality of neighbor expression broadcast intervals.

FIG. 21 is a drawing illustrating a signaling example in an exemplaryembodiment in which an access point selectively forwards expressionadvertisement information and a server selectively forwards expressionadvertisement information.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a drawing of an exemplary communications system 100 includinga plurality of wireless communications devices (wireless communicationsdevice 1 102, wireless communications device 2 104, . . . , wirelesscommunications device N 106), a plurality of access points (access point1 108, . . . , access point M 110), and a plurality of server nodes(server node 1 112, . . . , server node P 114). The exemplary wirelesscommunications devices (102, 104, 106) include wireless peer to peerinterfaces (118, 122, 126), respectively, and wireless wide area networkinterfaces (120, 124, 128), respectively.

The exemplary access points (108, 110) include wireless wide areanetwork interfaces (130, 134), respectively, and network interfaces(132, 136), respectively. The exemplary server nodes (112, 114) includenetwork interfaces (138, 140), respectively. The exemplary networkinterfaces (132, 136, 138, 140) are coupled together via a backhaulnetwork 116 which couples the nodes (108, 110, 112, 114) together and toother network nodes and/or the Internet.

In some embodiments at least some of access points (108, . . . , 110)are base stations. In some embodiments, at least one of the server nodes(112, 114) is used to store and/or track location information regardingat least some of the wireless communications devices (102, 104, . . . ,106). In some embodiments, at least one of the server nodes (112, 114)is used to store and/or track shopping preference information regardingat least some of the wireless communications devices (102, 104, . . . ,106).

The wireless wide area network interfaces (120, 124, 128, 130, 134) are,in some embodiments, part of a cellular network. The wireless peer topeer interfaces (118, 122, . . . , 126) in some embodiments use deviceto device signaling. In some embodiments, wireless communications overthe cellular network use one of orthogonal frequency divisionmultiplexing (OFDM) based wireless signaling, code division multipleaccess (CDMA) based wireless signaling and global system for mobilecommunications (GSM) based wireless signaling, and the wirelesscommunications over the peer to peer interfaces use OFDM based wirelesssignaling. In some embodiments, the wide area network communicationsband signaling uses a mixture of different types of signaling, e.g., fordifferent purposes. For example, in one exemplary embodiment, the WANtraffic channel signaling, closed loop power control signaling andclosed loop timing control signaling use CDMA based signaling, while theexpression advertisement interval signaling and the expression broadcastinterval signaling use OFDM based signaling. In some embodiments, themaximum signaling range for the peer to peer interface signaling is lessthan the maximum signaling range for the wide area network interfacesignaling.

The wireless communications devices (102, 104, . . . , 106) includestationary and mobile wireless communications devices. Exemplary mobilewireless communications devices includes cell phones with peer to peercapability and laptop computers with peer to peer capability, and othertypes of wireless communications devices including both a wireless WANinterface and a peer to peer interface. The access points (108, . . . ,110) include fixed location base stations.

FIG. 2, comprising the combination of FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B, is aflowchart 200 of an exemplary method of operating an access point inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment. The exemplary access point is,e.g., one of the access points in system 100 of FIG. 1. Operation startsin step 202, where the access point is powered on and initialized.Operation proceeds from start step 202 to step 204.

In step 204, the access point assigns different dedicated uplinkcommunications resources in an expression advertisement interval to aplurality of wireless communications devices. Operation proceeds fromstep 204 to step 206 and to step 228 via connecting node A 205. In step206 the access point determines if a first wireless communicationsdevice is in an active state with respect to the access point. If thefirst wireless communications device is not in active state with respectto the access point, then operation returns to the input of step 206 foranother check. However, if the first wireless communications device isin an active state with respect to the access point, then operationproceeds from step 206 to step 208.

In step 208 the access point transmits a signal to the firstcommunications device indicating assignment of a first uplinkcommunications resource to the first wireless communications device.Then in step 210 the access point receives information from the firstwireless communications device in the first uplink communicationsresource while said first wireless communications device is operating ina sleep state with respect to the access point, the first uplinkcommunications resource being dedicated to the first wirelesscommunications device.

In some embodiments, when the first wireless communications device isoperating in a sleep state with respect to the access point, there is noclosed loop power control and no closed loop timing control of the firstwireless communications device by the access point. In variousembodiments, the first uplink communications resource is part of a setof dedicated resources corresponding to an expression advertisementinterval. In some such embodiments, the expression advertisementinterval recurs in accordance with a predetermined schedule. In someembodiments, the expression advertisement interval recurs at an averagerate which is faster than an average network registration update rate ofthe first wireless communications device. A network registration updateof the first wireless communications device, in some embodiments,includes the first wireless communications device sending a networkelement, e.g., a server, a signal indicating information about the firstwireless communications device, e.g., information indicating location tobe used for paging, etc. In various embodiments, the average rate forthe expression advertisement interval is at least 10 times faster thanthe average network registration update rate. In some embodiments, theexpression advertisement interval recurs with a spacing betweensuccessive expression advertisement intervals of less than one minute,while network registration updates occur with a spacing betweensuccessive registration updates of at least 10 minutes, e.g., 30 minutesto a few hours.

In various embodiments, the first uplink communications resource is aset of OFDM tone-symbols. An OFDM tone-symbol, in some embodiments, isthe air link resource of one OFDM tone for one OFDM symbol transmissiontime interval. In some such embodiments, the location of the set of OFDMtone-symbols is determined according to a predetermined hoppingfunction.

Operation proceeds from step 210 to step 212, in which the access pointprocesses the received information from the first wirelesscommunications device. Operation proceeds from step 212 to one of step214 and step 216. In step 214 the access point selectively forwards atleast some of the information received from the first wirelesscommunications device in the first uplink communications resource. Step214, in some embodiments, includes forwarding a subset of the receivedinformation which passes some filter constraint. In step 216 the accesspoint forwards the information received from the first wirelesscommunications device in the first uplink communications resource to atleast one of a neighboring access point and an access point controllerthat controls one or more neighboring access point. A neighboring accesspoint is, in some embodiments, an access point which is physicallyadjacent the access point implementing the method of flowchart 200.

In some embodiments, step 214 includes one or more of steps 218, 220,222 and 224. In step 218 the access point routes information based on anexpression included in the received information from the first wirelesscommunications device. The expression is, e.g., an address of server.

In step 220 the access point examines at least some bits included fromthe information received from the first wireless communications deviceto determine which one of a plurality of servers to which theinformation is to be forwarded. Operation proceeds from step 220 to step222. In step 222 the access point determines an address corresponding tothe determined server. Operation proceeds from step 222 to step 224. Instep 224 the access point forwards at least some of the informationusing the determined address. Operation proceeds from step 214 or step216 to connecting node B 226.

Returning to step 228, in step 228 the access point determines if asecond wireless communications device is in an active state with respectto the access point. If the second wireless communications device is notin an active state with respect to the access point, then operationproceeds from the output of step 228 back to the input of step 228 foranother check at a later time. However, if the second communications isdetermined to be in an active state with respect to the access point,then operation proceeds from step 228 to step 230.

In step 230 the access point transmits a signal to the second wirelesscommunications device indicating assignment of a second uplinkcommunications resources while said second wireless communicationsdevice is operating in an active state with respect to the access point,the second uplink communications resource being dedicated to the secondcommunications device. Then, in step 232 the access point receivesinformation from the second wireless communications device in the seconduplink communications resource while said second wireless communicationsdevice is operating in an active state with respect to the access point,the second uplink communications resource being dedicated to the secondcommunications device.

In some embodiments, when the second wireless communications device isoperating in an active state with respect to the access point, there isat least one of closed loop power control and closed loop timing controlof the second wireless communications device by the access point. Insome embodiments, when the second wireless communications device isoperating in an active state with respect to the access point, there isboth closed loop power control and closed loop timing control of thesecond wireless communications device by the access point. In variousembodiments, the second uplink communications resource is part of a setof dedicated resources corresponding to an expression advertisementinterval. In some such embodiments, the expression advertisementinterval recurs in accordance with a predetermined schedule. In someembodiments, the expression advertisement interval recurs at an averagerate which is faster than an average network registration update rate ofthe second wireless communications device. A network registration updateof the second wireless communications device, in some embodiments,includes the second wireless communications device sending a networkelement, e.g., a server, a signal indicating information about thesecond wireless communications device, e.g., information indicatinglocation to be used for paging, etc. In various embodiments, the averagerate for the expression advertisement interval is at least 10 timesfaster than the average network update registration update rate. In someembodiments, the expression advertisement interval recurs with a spacingbetween successive expression advertisement intervals of less than oneminute, while network registration updates occur with a spacing betweensuccessive registration updates of at least 10 minutes, e.g., 30 minutesto a few hours.

In various embodiments, the second uplink communications resource is asecond set of OFDM tone-symbols. In some such embodiments, the locationof the second set of OFDM tone-symbols is determined according to apredetermined hopping function.

Operation proceeds from step 232 to step 234. In step 234 the accesspoint processes the received information from the second wirelesscommunications device. Operation proceeds from step 234 to one of step236 and step 238.

In step 236 the access point selectively forwards at least some of theinformation received from the second wireless communications device inthe second uplink communications resource. For example, the selectiveforwarding may include forming a subset to forward based on passing somefilter constraint. In step 238 the access point forwards the informationreceived from the second wireless communications device in the seconduplink communications resource to at least one of a neighboring accesspoint and an access point controller that controls one or moreneighboring access points, e.g., physically adjacent access points.

In some embodiments, step 236 includes one or more of steps 240, 242,244 and 246. In step 240 the access point routes information based on anexpression included in the received information from the second wirelesscommunications device. The expression is, e.g., an address of server.

In step 242 the access point examines at least some bits included in theinformation received from the second wireless communications device todetermine which one of a plurality of servers to which information is tobe forwarded. Operation proceeds from step 242 to step 244, in which theaccess point determines an address corresponding to the determinedserver. Then, in step 246 the access point forwards at least some of theinformation received from the second wireless communications device inthe second uplink communications resource using the determined addressof step 244. Operation proceeds from step 236 or step 238 to connectingnode B 226.

Operation proceeds from connecting node B 226 to step 248. In step 248the access node determines whether or not assignments for dedicateduplink communications resource in an expression advertisement intervalare to be changed. If the assignments are to be changed, then operationproceeds from step 248 via connecting node C 250 to the input of step204. However, if the assignments are not to be changed then operationproceeds from step 248 via connecting node D 252 to the input of step206 and the input of step 228.

FIG. 3 is a drawing of an exemplary access point 300, in accordance withan exemplary embodiment. Exemplary access point 300 is, e.g., one of theaccess points of FIG. 1. Exemplary access point 300 may, and sometimesdoes, implement a method in accordance with flowchart 200 of FIG. 2.

Access point 300 includes a processor 302 and memory 304 coupledtogether via a bus 309 over which the various elements (302, 304) mayinterchange data and information. Access point 300 further includes aninput module 306 and an output module 308 which may be coupled toprocessor 302 as shown. However, in some embodiments, the input module306 and output module 308 are located internal to the processor 302.Input module 306 can receive input signals. Input module 306 can, and insome embodiments does, include a wireless receiver and/or a wired oroptical input interface for receiving input. Output module 308 mayinclude, and in some embodiments does include, a wireless transmitterand/or a wired or optical output interface for transmitting output.

Processor 302 is configured to: receive information from a firstwireless communications device in a first uplink communications resourcewhile said first wireless communications device is operating in a sleepstate with respect to the access point, said first uplink communicationsresource being dedicated to the first wireless communications device;and process the received information. Processor 302 is furtherconfigured to: receive information from a second wireless communicationsdevice in a second uplink communications resource while said secondwireless communications device is operating in an active state withrespect to the access point, said second uplink communications resourcebeing dedicated to the second wireless communications device.

In some embodiments, said first uplink communications resource is partof a set of dedicated resources corresponding to an expressionadvertisement interval. In some embodiments, the first and second uplinkcommunications resources are both parts of the same set of dedicatedresources corresponding to the expression advertisement interval, andthe first and second uplink communications resources arenon-overlapping. In some embodiments, said expression advertisementinterval recurs in accordance with a predetermined schedule. In variousembodiments, the expression advertisement interval recurs at an averagerate which is faster than an average network registration update rate ofthe first wireless communications device. In some embodiments, theaverage rate for the expression advertisement interval is at least 10times faster than the average network update registration rate. In oneembodiment, the interval between successive expression advertisementintervals is less than one minute, and the interval between networkregistration updates is in the range of 30 minutes to a few hours.

In some embodiments, the first uplink communications resource is a setof OFDM tone-symbols. In some such embodiments, the location of the setof OFDM tone-symbols is determined according to a predetermined hoppingfunction. In some embodiments, the second uplink communications resourceis a set of OFDM tone-symbols which is the same size as the first uplinkcommunications resource.

Processor 302, in some embodiments, is further configured to:selectively forwarding at least some of the information received fromthe first wireless communications device in the first uplinkcommunications resource, e.g., forwarding a subset of the receivedinformation which passes some filter constraint. Processor 302 may be,and sometimes is configured to: route information based on an expressionincluded in the received information, e.g. an address of a serverincluded in the received information, as part of being configured toselectively forward. Processor 302 may be, and sometimes is, configuredto: examine at least some bits included in the information received fromthe first wireless communications device to determine which one of aplurality of servers to which the information is to be forwarded;determine an address corresponding to the determined server; and forwardsaid at least some of the information using the determined address, aspart of being configured to selectively forward.

Processor 302, in various embodiments, is configured to: forward theinformation received from the first wireless communications device inthe first uplink communications resource to at least one of aneighboring access point and an access point controller that controlsone or more neighboring access points. In some embodiments theneighboring access point is a physically adjacent access point withrespect to access point 300. In some embodiment a neighboring accesspoint is an access within a range of access point 300, e.g., within apredetermined range of access point 300. Processor 302 is, in someembodiments, configured to: transmit a signal to the first wirelesscommunications device indicating assignment of the first uplinkcommunications resource to said first wireless communications device,while said first wireless communications device is in an active statewith respect to the access point.

Processor 302 is further configured to: assign different dedicateduplink communications resources in said expression advertisementinterval to a plurality of different wireless communications devices. Invarious embodiments, a dedicated uplink communications resource in anexpression advertisement interval assigned to a wireless communicationsdevice is to be used by the wireless communications device whether thewireless communications device is in a sleep state or an active statewith respect to the access point.

FIG. 4 is an assembly of modules 400 which can, and in some embodimentsis, used in the access point 300 illustrated in FIG. 3. The modules inthe assembly 400 can be implemented in hardware within the processor 302of FIG. 3, e.g., as individual circuits. Alternatively, the modules maybe implemented in software and stored in the memory 304 of the accesspoint 300 shown in FIG. 3. While shown in the FIG. 3 embodiment as asingle processor, e.g., computer, it should be appreciated that theprocessor 302 may be implemented as one or more processors, e.g.,computers. When implemented in software the modules include code, whichwhen executed by the processor, configure the processor, e.g., computer,302 to implement the function corresponding to the module. In someembodiments, processor 302 is configured to implement each of themodules of the assembly of module 400. In embodiments where the assemblyof modules 400 is stored in the memory 304, the memory 304 is a computerprogram product comprising a computer readable medium comprising code,e.g., individual code for each module, for causing at least onecomputer, e.g., processor 302, to implement the functions to which themodules correspond.

Completely hardware based or completely software based modules may beused. However, it should be appreciated that any combination of softwareand hardware (e.g., circuit implemented) modules may be used toimplement the functions. As should be appreciated, the modulesillustrated in FIG. 4 control and/or configure the access point 300 orelements therein such as the processor 302, to perform the functions ofthe corresponding steps illustrated in the method flowchart 200 of FIG.2.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the assembly of modules 400, comprising firstpart 401 illustrated by FIG. 4A and second part 402 illustrated by FIG.4B, includes: a module 404 for assigning different dedicated uplinkcommunications resources in an expression advertisement interval to aplurality of wireless communications devices, a module 406 fordetermining if the first wireless communications device is in an activestate with respect to the access point, a module 408 for transmitting asignal to the first wireless communications device indicating assignmentof the first uplink communications resource to said first wirelesscommunications device, a module 410 for receiving information from thefirst wireless communications device in the first uplink communicationsresource while said first wireless communications device is operating ina sleep state with respect to the access point, the first uplinkcommunications resource being dedicated to the first wirelesscommunications device, and a module 412 for processing the receivedinformation from the first wireless communications device.

In some embodiments, assembly of modules includes one or more of: amodule 414 for selectively forwarding at least some of the informationreceived from the first wireless communications device in the firstuplink communications resource and a module 416 for forwarding theinformation received from the first wireless communications device inthe first uplink communications resource to at least one of aneighboring access point and an access point controller that controlsone or more neighboring access points. In various embodiments module 414includes one or more of: a module 418 for routing information based onan expression included in the received information from the firstwireless communications device, a module 420 for examining at least somebits included in the information received from the first wirelesscommunications device to determine which one of a plurality of serversto which the information is to be forwarded, a module 422 fordetermining an address corresponding to the determined server, and amodule 424 for forwarding at least some of the information using thedetermined address from module 422.

Assembly of modules 400 further includes a module 428 for determining ifthe second wireless communications device is in active state withrespect to the access point, a module 430 for transmitting a signal tothe second wireless communications device in the second uplinkcommunications resource while said second wireless communications deviceis operating in an active state with respect to the access point, thesecond uplink communications resource being dedicated to the secondcommunications device, a module 432 for receiving information from thesecond wireless communications device in the second uplinkcommunications resource while said second wireless communications deviceis operating in an active state with respect to the access point, thesecond uplink communications resource being dedicated to the secondcommunications device, and a module 434 for processing the receivedinformation from the second wireless communications device, and a module448 for determining whether assignments are to be changed. In someembodiments, the assembly of modules includes one or more of: a module436 for selectively forwarding at least some of the information receivedfrom the second communications device in the second uplinkcommunications resource and a module 438 for forwarding the informationreceived from the second communications device in the second uplinkcommunications resource to at least one of a neighboring access pointand an access point controller that controls one or more neighboringaccess points. In various embodiments, module 436 includes one or moreof: a module 440 for routing information based on an expression includedin the received information from the second wireless communicationsdevice, a module 442 for examining at least some bits included in theinformation received from the second wireless communications device todetermine which one of a plurality of servers to which the informationis to be forwarded, a module 444 for determining an addresscorresponding to the determined server, and a module 446 for forwardingat least some of the information using the determined address frommodule 444.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart 500 of an exemplary method of operating a firstwireless communications device in accordance with an exemplaryembodiment. The first wireless communications device is, e.g., one ofthe wireless communications devices of system 100 of FIG. 1. Operationstarts in step 502 where the first wireless communications device ispowered on and initialized and proceeds to step 504. In step 504, thefirst wireless communications device receives a signal from an accesspoint indicating assignment of a first uplink communications resourcesto said first wireless communications device.

Operation proceeds from step 504 to step 506. In step 506 the firstwireless communications device generates a first information signal tobe communicated to the access point. Then, in step 508 the firstwireless communications device transmits the first information signal tothe access point in the first uplink communications resource while saidwireless communications device is operating in a sleep state withrespect to the access point, said first uplink communications resourcebeing dedicated to the first wireless communications device. In someembodiments, when the first wireless communications device is operatingin a sleep state with respect to the access point, there is no closedloop power control and no closed loop timing control of the firstwireless communications device by the access point.

In some embodiments, the first uplink communications resource is part ofa set of dedicated resources corresponding to an expressionadvertisement interval. In some such embodiments, the expressionadvertisement interval recurs in accordance with a predeterminedschedule. In various embodiments, the expression advertisement intervalrecurs at an average rate which is faster than an average networkregistration update of the first wireless communications device. Thenetwork registration update of the first wireless communications device,in some embodiments, refers to the first wireless communications devicesending a signal to a network element, e.g., a server, with the signalindicating first wireless communications device update information,e.g., a current location for paging, etc. In some embodiments, theaverage rate for the expression advertisement interval is at least tentimes faster than the average network registration update rate. In someembodiments, the expression advertisement interval recurs with a spacingbetween successive expression advertisement intervals of less than oneminute, while network registration updates occur with a spacing betweensuccessive registration updates of at least 10 minutes, e.g., 30 minutesto a few hours.

In some embodiments, the first uplink communications resource is a setof OFDM tone-symbols. In some such embodiments, the location of the setof OFDM tone-symbols is determined according to a predetermined hoppingfunction.

In some embodiments, optional steps 510 and 512 are included. In oneembodiment which includes step 510 and step 512, the first informationsignal of steps 506 and 508 includes a first set of informationcorresponding to a first application and the first information signal istransmitted in a first expression advertisement interval.

Operation proceeds from step 508 to step 510, when included. In step 510the first communications device generates a second information signalincluding a second set of information corresponding to a secondapplication. Then, in step 512 the first communications device transmitsthe second information signal to the access point in a second uplinkcommunications resource of a second expression advertisement interval,said second uplink communications resource being dedicated to the firstwireless communications device, both said first and second uplinkcommunications resources corresponding to a single device identifier. Insome embodiments, the signal of step 504 communicates the single deviceidentifier.

FIG. 6 is a drawing of an exemplary first wireless communications device600, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. Exemplary firstwireless communications device 600 is, e.g., one of the wirelesscommunications devices of FIG. 1. Exemplary first wirelesscommunications device 600 may, and sometimes does, implement a method inaccordance with flowchart 500 of FIG. 5.

First wireless communications device 600 includes a processor 602 andmemory 604 coupled together via a bus 609 over which the variouselements (602, 604) may interchange data and information. First wirelesscommunications device 600 further includes an input module 606 and anoutput module 608 which may be coupled to processor 602 as shown.However, in some embodiments, the input module 606 and output module 608are located internal to the processor 602. Input module 606 can receiveinput signals. Input module 606 can, and in some embodiments does,include a wireless receiver and/or a wired or optical input interfacefor receiving input. Output module 608 may include, and in someembodiments does include, a wireless transmitter and/or a wired oroptical output interface for transmitting output.

Processor 602 is configured to: generate a first information signal tobe communicated to an access point; and transmit the first informationsignal to the access point in a first uplink communications resourcewhile said wireless communications device is operating in a sleep statewith respect to the access point, said first uplink communicationsresource being dedicated to the first wireless communications device.

In some embodiments, the first uplink communications resource is part ofa set of dedicated resources corresponding to an expressionadvertisement interval. In some such embodiments, said expressionadvertisement interval recurs in accordance with a predeterminedschedule. In some embodiments, the expression advertisement intervalrecurs at an average rate which is faster than an average networkregistration update of the first wireless communications device. In atleast one embodiment, the average rate is at least 10 times faster thanthe average network registration update rate.

In some embodiments, the first uplink communications resource is a setof OFDM tone-symbols. In some such embodiments, the location of the setof OFDM tone-symbols is determined according to a predetermined hoppingfunction.

Processor 602 is further configured to: receive a signal from the accesspoint indicating assignment of the first uplink communications resourceto said first wireless communications device.

In some embodiments, the first information signal includes a first setof information corresponding to a first application and the firstinformation signal is transmitted in a first expression advertisementinterval, and processor 602 is further configured to: generate a secondinformation signal including a second set of information correspondingto a second application; and transmit the second information signal tothe access point in a second uplink communications resource of a secondexpression advertisement interval, said second uplink communicationsresource being dedicated to the first wireless communications device,both said first and second uplink communications resources correspondingto a single resource identifier.

FIG. 7 is an assembly of modules 700 which can, and in some embodimentsis, used in the first wireless communications device 600 illustrated inFIG. 6. The modules in the assembly 700 can be implemented in hardwarewithin the processor 602 of FIG. 6, e.g., as individual circuits.Alternatively, the modules may be implemented in software and stored inthe memory 604 of the access point 600 shown in FIG. 6. While shown inthe FIG. 6 embodiment as a single processor, e.g., computer, it shouldbe appreciated that the processor 602 may be implemented as one or moreprocessors, e.g., computers. When implemented in software the modulesinclude code, which when executed by the processor, configure theprocessor, e.g., computer, 602 to implement the function correspondingto the module. In some embodiments, processor 602 is configured toimplement each of the modules of the assembly of module 700. Inembodiments where the assembly of modules 700 is stored in the memory604, the memory 604 is a computer program product comprising a computerreadable medium comprising code, e.g., individual code for each module,for causing at least one computer, e.g., processor 602, to implement thefunctions to which the modules correspond.

Completely hardware based or completely software based modules may beused. However, it should be appreciated that any combination of softwareand hardware (e.g., circuit implemented) modules may be used toimplement the functions. As should be appreciated, the modulesillustrated in FIG. 7 control and/or configure the access point 600 orelements therein such as the processor 602, to perform the functions ofthe corresponding steps illustrated in the method flowchart 500 of FIG.5.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, the assembly of modules 700 includes: a module704 for receiving a signal from an access point indicating assignment ofa first uplink communications resources to said first wirelesscommunications device, a module 706 for generating a first informationsignal to be communicated to an access point, and a module 708 fortransmitting the first information signal to the access point in thefirst uplink communications resource while said first wirelesscommunications device is operating in a sleep state with respect to theaccess point, said first uplink communications resource being dedicatedto the first wireless communications device.

In some embodiments, the first uplink communications resource is part ofa set of dedicated resources corresponding to an expressionadvertisement interval. In some such embodiments, the expressionadvertisement interval recurs in accordance with a predeterminedschedule. In various embodiments, the expression advertisement intervalrecurs at an average rate which is faster than an average networkregistration update of the first wireless communications device. Thenetwork registration update of the first wireless communications device,in some embodiments, refers to the first wireless communications devicesending a signal to a network element, e.g., a server, with the signalindicating first wireless communications device update information,e.g., a current location for paging, etc. In some embodiments, theaverage rate for the expression advertisement interval is at least tentimes faster than the average network registration update rate. In someembodiments, the expression advertisement interval recurs with a spacingbetween successive expression advertisement intervals of less than oneminute, while network registration updates occur with a spacing betweensuccessive registration updates of at least 10 minutes, e.g., 30 minutesto a few hours.

In some embodiments, the first uplink communications resource is a setof OFDM tone-symbols. In some such embodiments, the location of the setof OFDM tone-symbols is determined according to a predetermined hoppingfunction.

In some embodiments assembly of modules 700 includes optional modules710 and 712. In one embodiment which includes module 710 and module 712,the first information signal generated by module 706 and transmitted bymodule 708 includes a first set of information corresponding to a firstapplication, and the first information signal is transmitted by module708 in a first expression advertisement interval.

Module 710 is a module for generating a second information signalincluding a second set of information corresponding to a secondapplication. Module 712 is a module for transmitting the secondinformation signal to the access point in a second uplink communicationsresource of a second expression advertisement interval, said seconduplink communications resource being dedicated to the first wirelesscommunications device, both said first and second communicationsresources corresponding to a single resource identifier.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart 800 of an exemplary method of operating an accesspoint in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. The access point is,e.g., one of the access point of system 100 of FIG. 1. Operation of theexemplary method starts in step 802 where the access point is powered onand initialized and proceeds to step 804. In step 804, the access pointreceives a first set of information from a plurality of differentwireless communications devices in dedicated uplink communicationsresources corresponding to individual wireless communications devices,information from an individual wireless communications device beingreceived in a dedicated uplink resource corresponding to the individualwireless communications device.

In some embodiments, a dedicated uplink communications resourcecorresponding to an individual wireless communications device is a setof OFDM tone-symbols. In some such embodiments, the location of the setof OFDM tone-symbols is determined according to a predetermined hoppingfunction.

In some embodiments, the first set of information includes informationtransmitted by at least one wireless communications device operating ina sleep state with respect to the access point. In some suchembodiments, the first set of information also includes informationtransmitted by at least one wireless communications device operating inan active state with respect to the access point.

In various embodiments, the first set of information is received duringan expression advertisement interval. In some such embodiments, theexpression advertisement interval recurs in accordance with apredetermined schedule.

Operation proceeds from step 804 to step 806. In step 806 the accesspoint selects a first portion of the received first set of informationbased on at least some of the information included in said firstreceived set of information. In some embodiments, the first portion isthe entire received first set of information.

Operation proceeds from step 806 to step 808. In step 808 the accesspoint transmits the first portion of the received first set ofinformation from the plurality of different wireless communicationsdevices in dedicated downlink broadcast communications resourcescorresponding to the individual wireless communications devices. In someembodiments, the access point transmits the first portion of thereceived first set of information during an expression broadcastinterval. In some such embodiments, the expression broadcast intervalrecurs in accordance with a predetermined schedule.

In some embodiments, the expression advertisement interval occurs at afirst rate and the expression broadcast interval recurs at a first rateat least as fast as the first rate. In some such embodiments, the accesspoint can, and sometimes does, retransmit information received in anexpression advertisement interval multiple times, e.g., duringsuccessive expression broadcast intervals. In some such embodiments,wireless communications devices, e.g., battery powered mobile nodes,transmitting during the expression advertisement interval may be poweredconstrained, whereas an access point, e.g., a fixed location basestation, transmitting during expression broadcast intervals may not bepower constrained.

In some embodiments, the expression advertisement interval recurs at anaverage rate which is faster than an average registration update ratefor a wireless communications device. In some such embodiments, theaverage rate is at least 10 times faster than the average networkregistration update rate.

Operation proceeds from step 808 to step 810. In step 810 the accesspoint selects a second portion of the received first set of informationfrom the first set of information based on at least some of theinformation included in the received first set of information. Operationproceeds from step 810 to step 812. In step 812 the access pointforwards the second portion of the first set of information to aneighboring access point. Operation proceeds from step 812 to step 814.

In step 814 the access point receives a forwarded set of informationfrom a neighboring access point. In some embodiments, the forwardedinformation was received by the neighboring access point during anexpression advertisement interval. Operation proceeds from step 814 tostep 816. In step 816 the access point transmits the forwarded set ofinformation during a neighbor expression broadcast interval. In someembodiments, expression broadcast intervals and neighbor expressionbroadcast intervals can overlap in time. In some embodiments, during atleast some times, information received from multiple neighboring accesspoints by said access point is transmitted by said access point duringsaid neighbor expression broadcast interval. Operation proceeds fromstep 816 to step 818.

In step 818 the access point receives information derived fromexpressions received by different access points from a server. Then, instep 820 the access point transmits the received information derivedfrom the expressions received by different access points to at least onecommunications device. Operation proceeds from step 820 to the input ofstep 804.

FIG. 9 is a drawing of an exemplary access point 900, in accordance withan exemplary embodiment. Exemplary access point 900 is, e.g., one of theaccess points of FIG. 1. Exemplary access point 900 may, and sometimesdoes, implement a method in accordance with flowchart 800 of FIG. 8.

Access point 900 includes a processor 902 and memory 904 coupledtogether via a bus 909 over which the various elements (902, 904) mayinterchange data and information. Access point 900 further includes aninput module 906 and an output module 908 which may be coupled toprocessor 902 as shown. However, in some embodiments, the input module906 and output module 908 are located internal to the processor 902.Input module 906 can receive input signals. Input module 906 can, and insome embodiments does, include a wireless receiver and/or a wired oroptical input interface for receiving input. Output module 908 mayinclude, and in some embodiments does include, a wireless transmitterand/or a wired or optical output interface for transmitting output.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, processor 902 is configured to: receive afirst set of information from a plurality of different wirelesscommunications devices in dedicated uplink resources corresponding toindividual wireless communications devices, information from anindividual wireless communications device being received in a dedicateduplink resource corresponding to the individual wireless communicationsdevice; and transmit a first portion of the received first set ofinformation from the plurality of different wireless communicationsdevices in dedicated downlink broadcast communications resourcescorresponding to the individual wireless communications devices. In someembodiments, the first portion is the entire received first set ofinformation.

In some embodiments, said first set of information includes informationtransmitted by at least one wireless communications device operating ina sleep state with respect to the access point. In some suchembodiments, said first set of information also includes informationtransmitted by at least one wireless communications device operating inan active state with respect to the access point.

In various embodiments, said first set of information is received duringan expression advertisement interval. In some such embodiments, theexpression advertisement interval recurs in accordance with apredetermined schedule.

Processor 902, in some embodiments, is further configured to: selectsaid first portion of the received first set of information from thefirst set of information based on at least some of the informationincluded in said received first set of information. In some embodiments,processor 902 is further configured to: select a second portion of thereceived first set of information from the first set of informationbased on at least some of the information included in said receivedfirst set of information; and forward the second portion of the receivedfirst set of information to a neighboring access point.

In some embodiments, processor 902 is configured to transmit the firstportion of the received first set of information during an expressionbroadcast interval. In various embodiments, said expression broadcastinterval recurs in accordance with a predetermined schedule. In someembodiments, said expression advertisement interval occurs at a firstrate and the expression broadcast interval recurs at a rate at least asfast as the first rate. In some embodiments, the expressionadvertisement interval recurs at an average rate which is faster than anaverage network registration update rate for a wireless communicationsdevice. In some such embodiments, the average rate associated with theexpression advertisement interval is at least 10 times faster than theaverage network registration update rate. In some embodiments, adedicated uplink communications resource corresponding to an individualwireless communications device is a set of OFDM tone-symbols.

Processor 902 is further configured to: receive a forwarded set ofinformation from a neighboring access point; and transmit the forwardedset of information during a neighbor expression broadcast interval. Insome embodiments, said forwarded information was received by saidneighboring access point during an expression advertisement interval.Processor 902, in various embodiments, is configured to transmitinformation received from multiple neighboring access points during saidneighbor expression broadcast interval.

Processor 902 is, in some embodiments, further configured to: receiveinformation derived from expressions received by different access pointsfrom a server; and transmit the received information derived fromexpressions received by different access points to at least onecommunications device.

FIG. 10 is an assembly of modules 1000 which can, and in someembodiments is, used in the access point 900 illustrated in FIG. 9. Themodules in the assembly 1000 can be implemented in hardware within theprocessor 902 of FIG. 9, e.g., as individual circuits. Alternatively,the modules may be implemented in software and stored in the memory 904of the access point 900 shown in FIG. 9. While shown in the FIG. 9embodiment as a single processor, e.g., computer, it should beappreciated that the processor 902 may be implemented as one or moreprocessors, e.g., computers. When implemented in software the modulesinclude code, which when executed by the processor, configure theprocessor, e.g., computer, 902 to implement the function correspondingto the module. In some embodiments, processor 902 is configured toimplement each of the modules of the assembly of module 1000. Inembodiments where the assembly of modules 1000 is stored in the memory904, the memory 904 is a computer program product comprising a computerreadable medium comprising code, e.g., individual code for each module,for causing at least one computer, e.g., processor 902, to implement thefunctions to which the modules correspond.

Completely hardware based or completely software based modules may beused. However, it should be appreciated that any combination of softwareand hardware (e.g., circuit implemented) modules may be used toimplement the functions. As should be appreciated, the modulesillustrated in FIG. 10 control and/or configure the access point 900 orelements therein such as the processor 902, to perform the functions ofthe corresponding steps illustrated in the method flowchart 800 of FIG.8.

Assembly of modules 1000 includes: a module 1004 for receiving a firstset of information from a plurality of different wireless communicationsdevices in dedicated uplink communications resources corresponding toindividual wireless communications devices, information from anindividual wireless communications device being received in a dedicateduplink resource corresponding to the individual wireless communicationsdevice, a module 1006 for selecting a first portion of the receivedfirst set of information based on at least some of the informationincluded in said first set of information, a module 1008 fortransmitting the first portion of the received first set of informationfrom the plurality of different wireless communications devices indedicated downlink broadcast communications resources corresponding tothe individual wireless communications devices, and a module 1010 forselecting a second portion of the received first set of information fromthe first set of information based on at least some of the informationincluded in the received first set of information. Assembly of modules1010 further includes a module 1012 for forwarding the second portion ofthe received first set of information to a neighboring access point, amodule 1014 for receiving a forwarded set of information from aneighboring access point, a module 1016 for transmitting the forwardedset of information during a neighbor expression broadcast interval, amodule 1018 for receiving information derived from expressions receivedby different access points from a server, and a module 1020 fortransmitting the received information derived from expressions receivedby different access points to at least one communications device.

In some embodiments, the first portion is the entire received first setof information. In various embodiments, the first set of informationincludes information transmitted by at least one wireless communicationsdevice operating in a sleep state with respect to the access point. Insome such embodiments, the first set of information also includesinformation transmitted by at least one wireless communications deviceoperating in an active state with respect to the access point.

In some embodiments, the first set of information is received during anexpression advertisement interval. In some such embodiments, theexpression advertisement interval recurs in accordance with apredetermined schedule. In various embodiments, transmitting the firstportion of the received set of information is performed during anexpression broadcast interval. In some such embodiments, the expressionbroadcast interval occurs in accordance with a predetermined schedule.

In some embodiments, the expression advertisement interval occurs at afirst rate and the expression broadcast interval recurs at a rate atleast as fast as the first rate. In various embodiments, the expressionadvertisement interval recurs at an average rate which is faster than anaverage network registration update for a wireless communicationsdevice. In some such embodiments, the average rate associated with theexpression advertisement interval is at least 10 times faster than theaverage network registration update rate.

In some embodiments, a dedicated uplink communications resourcecorresponding to an individual wireless communications device is a setof OFDM tone-symbols. In some such embodiments, the set of OFDMtone-symbols corresponding to the individual wireless communicationsdevice changes over time in accordance with a predetermined hoppingfunction.

In some embodiments, expression broadcast intervals and neighborexpression broadcast intervals can overlap in time. In some embodiments,forwarded information was received by the neighboring access pointduring an expression advertisement interval. In some embodiments,information received from multiple neighboring access points istransmitted during said neighbor expression broadcast interval.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart 1100 of an exemplary method of operating awireless communications device in accordance with an exemplaryembodiment. The exemplary wireless communications device is, e.g., oneof the wireless communications devices of system 100 of FIG. 1.Operation starts in step 1102, where the wireless communications deviceis powered on and initialized and proceeds to step 1104.

In step 1104 the wireless communications device monitors an expressionbroadcast interval to recover broadcast information transmitted by afirst access point corresponding to multiple communications devices. Insome embodiments, during at least some times during which the wirelesscommunications device monitors the expression broadcast interval, thewireless communications device is operating in a sleep state withrespect to the first access point. Operation proceeds from step 1104 tostep 1106. In step 1106 the access point processes the recoveredbroadcast information to determine if said recovered broadcastinformation includes information corresponding to an individual wirelesscommunications device of interest. Operation proceeds from step 1106 tostep 1108.

In step 1108, if the wireless communications device has determined thatthe recovered broadcast information includes information correspondingto the individual wireless communications device of interest, thenoperation proceeds from step 1108 to step 1110; otherwise operationproceeds from step 1108 to step 1112.

Returning to step 1110, in step 1110 the wireless communications devicestores location information corresponding to said individual wirelesscommunications device of interest. Operation proceeds from step 1110 tostep 1112.

In step 1112, the wireless communications device monitors a neighborexpression broadcast interval to recover broadcast informationtransmitted by said first access point, information transmitted duringsaid neighbor expression broadcast interval being information previouslyreceived at one or more access points which are neighbors of said firstaccess point. In some embodiments, during at least some times thewireless communications device monitors the neighbor expressionbroadcast interval while the wireless communications device is operatingin a sleep state with respect to the first access point. In someembodiments, broadcast information recovered by monitoring a neighborexpression broadcast interval includes information which wascommunicated to one of the neighboring access points in an uplinkexpression advertisement interval. Operation proceeds from step 1112 tostep 1114. In step 1114 the first wireless communications deviceprocesses recovered broadcast information from said neighbor expressionbroadcast interval to determine if the recovered broadcast informationfrom the neighbor expression broadcast interval includes informationcorresponding to said individual wireless communications device ofinterest. Operation proceeds from step 1114 to step 1116.

In step 1116, if the wireless communications device has determined thatrecovered information from the neighbor expression broadcast intervalincludes information corresponding to the individual wirelesscommunications device of interest, then operation proceeds from step1116 to step 1118; otherwise, operation proceeds from step 1118 toconnecting node A 1120.

Returning to step 1118, in step 1118 the wireless communications devicestores location information corresponding to said individual wirelesscommunications device of interest, said location information indicatingthat said individual wireless communications of interest is within acoverage area of an access point neighboring said first access point.Operation proceeds from step 1118 to connecting node A 1120.

Operation proceeds from connecting node A 1120 to the input of step1104, as indicated by arrow 1122. Thus, arrow 1122 may be used toindicate that the wireless communications device returns to repeat stepsincluding continuing to monitor the expression broadcast interval andcontinuing to monitor the neighbor expression broadcast interval. Insome embodiments, the expression broadcast interval recurs according toa first schedule, the neighbor expression broadcast interval recursaccording to a second schedule, the wireless communications devicecontinues to monitor the expression broadcast interval according to thefirst schedule, and the wireless communications device continues tomonitor the neighbor expression broadcast interval according to thesecond schedule.

In some embodiments, the wireless communications device may, andsometimes does, perform steps of flowchart 1100 for more than oneindividual wireless communications device of interest. For example thewireless communications device may be looking for broadcast informationcorresponding to multiple different individual wireless communicationsdevices of interest, e.g., members of a group, in expression broadcastintervals and neighbor expression broadcast intervals. The group is,e.g., a peer social networking group or gaming group or other type ofgroup of which the wireless communications device implementing themethod is a member or has an interest. The multiple individual wirelesscommunications devices of interest, in some embodiments, have a commonassociation or characteristic, e.g., the devices are capable ofproviding a certain type of information of interest to the deviceimplementing the method of flowchart 1100.

FIG. 12 is a drawing of an exemplary wireless communications device1200, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. Exemplary wirelesscommunications device 1200 is, e.g., one of the wireless communicationsdevices of FIG. 1. Exemplary wireless communications device 1200 may,and sometimes does, implement a method in accordance with flowchart 1100of FIG. 11.

Wireless communications device 1200 includes a processor 1202 and memory1204 coupled together via a bus 1209 over which the various elements(1202, 1204) may interchange data and information. Wirelesscommunications device 1200 further includes an input module 1206 and anoutput module 1208 which may be coupled to processor 1202 as shown.However, in some embodiments, the input module 1206 and output module1208 are located internal to the processor 1202. Input module 1206 canreceive input signals. Input module 1206 can, and in some embodimentsdoes, include a wireless receiver and/or a wired or optical inputinterface for receiving input. Output module 1208 may include, and insome embodiments does include, a wireless transmitter and/or a wired oroptical output interface for transmitting output.

Processor 1202 is configured to: monitor an expression broadcastinterval to recover broadcast information transmitted by a first accesspoint corresponding to multiple wireless communications devices; andprocess the recovered broadcast information to determine if saidrecovered broadcast information includes information corresponding to anindividual wireless communications device of interest. In variousembodiments, during at least some times while wireless communicationsdevice 1200 is monitoring an expression broadcast interval said wirelesscommunications device 1200 is operating in a sleep state with respect tothe first access point. Processor 1202 is further configured to: storelocation information corresponding to said individual wirelesscommunications device of interest in response to a determination thatsaid recovered broadcast information includes information correspondingto said individual wireless communications device of interest.

In various embodiments, processor 1202 is further configured to: monitora neighbor expression broadcast interval to recover broadcastinformation transmitted by said first access point, informationtransmitted during said neighbor expression broadcast interval beinginformation previously received at one or more neighboring access pointswhich are neighbors of said first access point; and process recoveredbroadcast information from said neighbor expression broadcast intervalto determine if the recovered broadcast information from said neighborbroadcast interval includes information corresponding to said individualwireless communications device is of interest. In some such embodiments,processor 1202 is further configured to store location informationcorresponding to said individual wireless communications device ofinterest in response to a determination that said recovered broadcastinformation from said neighbor expression broadcast interval includesinformation corresponding to said individual wireless communicationsdevice of interest, said location information indicating that saidindividual wireless communications device of interest is within acoverage area of an access point neighboring said first access point. Insome embodiments, broadcast information recovered by monitoring aneighbor expression broadcast interval includes information which wascommunicated to one of the neighboring access points in an uplinkexpression advertisement interval.

In some embodiments, the expression broadcast interval recurs accordingto a first schedule and the neighbor expression broadcast intervalrecurs according to a second schedule, and processor 1202 is furtherconfigured to: continue to monitor said expression broadcast intervalaccording to the first schedule; and continue to monitor said neighborexpression broadcast interval according to the second schedule.

FIG. 13 is an assembly of modules 1300 which can, and in someembodiments is, used in the wireless communications device 1200illustrated in FIG. 12. The modules in the assembly 1300 can beimplemented in hardware within the processor 1202 of FIG. 12, e.g., asindividual circuits. Alternatively, the modules may be implemented insoftware and stored in the memory 1304 of the wireless communicationsdevice 1200 shown in FIG. 12. While shown in the FIG. 12 embodiment as asingle processor, e.g., computer, it should be appreciated that theprocessor 1202 may be implemented as one or more processors, e.g.,computers. When implemented in software the modules include code, whichwhen executed by the processor, configure the processor, e.g., computer,1202 to implement the function corresponding to the module. In someembodiments, processor 1202 is configured to implement each of themodules of the assembly of module 1300. In embodiments where theassembly of modules 1300 is stored in the memory 1204, the memory 1204is a computer program product comprising a computer readable mediumcomprising code, e.g., individual code for each module, for causing atleast one computer, e.g., processor 1202, to implement the functions towhich the modules correspond.

Completely hardware based or completely software based modules may beused. However, it should be appreciated that any combination of softwareand hardware (e.g., circuit implemented) modules may be used toimplement the functions. As should be appreciated, the modulesillustrated in FIG. 13 control and/or configure the wirelesscommunications device 1200 or elements therein such as the processor1202, to perform the functions of the corresponding steps illustrated inthe method flowchart 1100 of FIG. 11.

As illustrated in FIG. 13, the assembly of modules 1300 includes: amodule 1304 for monitoring an expression broadcast interval to recoverbroadcast information transmitted by a first access point correspondingto multiple wireless communications devices, a module 1306 forprocessing the recovered broadcast information to determine if saidrecovered broadcast information includes information corresponding to anindividual wireless communications device of interest, a module 1308 forcontrolling processing based on said determination if said recoveredbroadcast information includes information corresponding to saidindividual wireless communications device of interest, and a module 1310for storing location information corresponding to said individualwireless communications device of interest in response to adetermination that said recovered broadcast information includesinformation corresponding to said individual wireless communicationsdevice of interest. Assembly of modules 1300 further includes: a module1312 for monitoring a neighbor expression broadcast interval to recoverbroadcast information transmitted by said first access point,information transmitted during said neighbor expression broadcastinterval being information previously received at one or more accesspoints which are neighbors of first access point, and a module 1314 forprocessing recovered broadcast information from said neighbor expressionbroadcast interval to determine if the recovered broadcast informationfrom the neighbor expression broadcast interval includes informationcorresponding to said individual wireless communications device ofinterest.

Assembly of modules 1300 further comprises a module 1316 for controllingprocessing based on said determination if said received broadcastinformation from the neighbor expression broadcast interval includesinformation corresponding to said individual wireless communicationsdevice of interest, and module 1318 for storing location informationcorresponding to said individual wireless communications device ofinterest in response to a determination that said recovered informationfrom said neighbor expression broadcast interval includes informationcorresponding to said individual wireless communications device ofinterest, said location information indicating that said individualwireless communications device of interest is within a coverage area ofan access point neighboring said first access point. Assembly of modules1300 further includes a module 1320 for controlling continuingmonitoring of said expression broadcast interval according to a firstschedule and a module 1322 for controlling continuing of monitoring ofsaid neighbor expression broadcast interval according to a secondschedule.

FIG. 14 includes a drawing 1400 of an exemplary wide area network (WAN)uplink timing frequency structure in accordance with an exemplaryembodiment. Vertical axis 1402 represents frequency, e.g., OFDM tones,while horizontal axis 1404 represents time. In some embodiments, unitsof time are OFDM symbol transmission time intervals. The WAN uplinktiming frequency structure includes WAN traffic and/or controllingsignaling air link resources 1406, expression advertisement air linkresources 1408, and WAN traffic and/or control signaling air linkresources 1410. The timing frequency structure in this embodimentfollows a recurring pattern. In this example, the expressionadvertisement air link resources 1408 occur during expressionadvertisement interval 1412. In this example, the expressionadvertisement air link resources are a very small portion of the set ofresources including resources 1406, 1408 and 1410, e.g., approximately2% of the set.

Expression advertisement air link resources 1408, in this example,includes a set of 16 different resources each associated with adifferent expression advertisement resource index (1, 2, . . . , 16). Inother embodiments there are a different number of resources in the set,typically a larger number of resources in the set. The number ofresources in the set of expression advertisement resources for an accesspoint, in some embodiments, has been chosen to accommodate the expectednumber of users which may at any one time be registered at the accesspoint including users in sleep state and users in active state. At agiven time the number of users allowed to be in active state istypically much smaller than the number of users that may be in sleepstate at the access point. And the number of users at a given time insleep state at the access point is typically much smaller than thenumber of users in sleep state within a paging region including theaccess point and within the totality of the system. In one exemplaryembodiment, the structure is such to support 200 active users at anaccess point, 4000 sleep users at the access point, 5600 expressionadvertisement resource IDs at the access point, 20000 paging IDs in apaging region including the access point and one or more other accesspoints, and 10000000 wireless communications devices in thecommunications system. In some embodiments, an individual expressionadvertisement air link resource comprises one OFDM tone for apredetermined fixed number of OFDM symbol transmission time intervals.

In some embodiments, signals transmitted by wireless terminals usingexpression advertisement air link resources 1408 are signals which haveopen loop power control. At least some signal transmitted by wirelessterminals in one of more of WAN traffic and/or control air linkresources (1406, 1410) are closed loop power control signals and/orclosed loop timing control signals. As a result some uplink trafficsignals communicated in one or more of resources (1406, 1410) aresignals which have been close loop power controlled and/or closed looptiming controlled.

In this embodiment, the location of an individual resource associatedwith a particular expression advertisement resource index may, andsometimes does, vary from one expression advertisement interval to thenext in accordance with a hopping information. Block 1408 shows a firstmapping of air link resources during a first expression advertisementinterval 1412, while block 1408′ shows a second mapping of air linkresources during a subsequent expression advertisement interval inaccordance with an exemplary hopping function. A particular wirelessterminal may acquire and hold an individual expression advertisementresource index while registered at an access point, e.g. base station,and use the resources associated with the index. For example, a firstwireless terminal may acquire expression advertisement resource index 2and may use individual resource 1414 of expression advertisementresource block 1408 and individual resource 1416 of expressionadvertisement resource block 1408′.

FIG. 15 is a drawing 1500 used to illustrate an exemplary embodiment inwhich a wireless terminal has a paging identifier associated with pagingair link resources and an expression advertisement resource identifierassociated with expression advertisement air link resources, wherein theexpression advertisement resource identifier is local with respect to anaccess point and the paging identifier applies to a paging regionincluding a plurality of access point. Drawing 1500 includes accesspoint 1 1502, e.g., base station 1, and access point 2 1504, e.g., basestation 2. Access point 1 1502 has a wireless coverage area representedby cell 1 1506, while access point 2 1504 has a wireless coverage area1508 represented by cell 2 1508. Both cell 1 1506 and cell 2 1508 arewithin paging region 1510.

Wireless terminal 1 1512 has paging identifier=30 1514, which it keepsand uses while it is in paging region 1510. Consider that wirelessterminal 1 1512 is registered with access point 1 1502, and considerthat wireless terminal 1 1512 has local expression advertisementresource identifier=2 for access point 1 1502 as indicated by block1516. Wireless terminal 1 1512 uses the expression advertisement airlink resource associated with expression advertisement air link resourceindex=2 for access point 1 1502 to transmit uplink expressionadvertisement signal 1518 to access point 1 1502. WT 1 1512 may be insleep state or active state with respect to access point 1 1502 when ittransmits signal 1518.

Now consider that wireless terminal 1 1512 moves from cell 1 1506 tocell 2 1508 as indicated by dashed arrow 1520. As part of the move, ahandoff occurs and wireless terminal 1 1512 acquires a new localexpression advertisement resource identifier which corresponds to accesspoint 2 1504. In this example, wireless terminal 1 1512 acquiresexpression advertisement resource identifier=3 for access point 2 1504as indicated by block 1522. Wireless terminal 1 1512 uses the expressionadvertisement air link resource associated with expression advertisementair link resource index=3 for access point 2 1504 to transmit uplinkexpression advertisement signal 1524 to access point 2 1504. WT 1 1512may be in sleep state or active state with respect to access point 21504 when it transmits signal 1524.

FIG. 16 is a drawing illustrating an uplink expression advertisementinterval and a corresponding downlink expression broadcast interval inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment. Drawing 1600 of FIG. 16includes exemplary access point 1 1602, e.g., base station 1, and aplurality of wireless terminals (wireless terminal 1 1604, wirelessterminal 2 1606, wireless terminal 3 1608). Drawing 1610 illustrates aportion of an exemplary uplink timing frequency structure being used byaccess point 1 1602 and wireless terminals (1604, 1606, 1608). Drawing1612 illustrates a portion of an exemplary downlink timing frequencystructure being used by access point 1 1602 and wireless terminals(1604, 1606, 1608).

The uplink timing frequency structure of drawing 1610 includes avertical axis 1614 representing frequency, e.g., OFDM tones, and ahorizontal axis 1616 representing time. The uplink timing includes anexpression advertisement interval 1618 during which there is a set ofexpression advertisement air link resources 1620.

The downlink timing frequency structure of drawing 1612 includes avertical axis 1622 representing frequency, e.g., OFDM tones, and ahorizontal axis 1624 representing time. The downlink timing includes anexpression broadcast interval 1626 during which there is a set ofexpression broadcast air link resources 1628.

Each of the wireless terminals (WT 1 1604, WT 2 1606, WT 3 1608) has adifferent expression advertisement resource index. WT 1's expressionadvertisement resource index maps to individual dedicated expressionadvertisement air link resource 1632 of set of resources 1620. WT 2'sexpression advertisement resource index maps to individual dedicatedexpression advertisement air link resource 1636 of set of resources1620. WT 3's expression advertisement resource index maps to individualdedicated expression advertisement air link resource 1640 of set ofresources 1620.

During expression advertisement interval 1618, (WT 1 1604, WT 2 1606, WT3 1608) transmit expression advertisements signals (1630, 1634, 1638),respectively, using resources (1632, 1636, 1640), respectively, whichconvey expressions (E1, E2, E3), respectively, to access point 1 1602.

In this example, expression broadcast interval 1626 corresponds toexpression advertisement interval 1618, and set of expression broadcastair link resources 1628 corresponds to set of expression advertisementair link resources 1620. In this particular embodiment, the broadcast ofthe expression broadcast interval is an echo back of informationreceived during the expression advertisement interval. Access point 11602 broadcasts, signals (1642, 1646, 1650) using resources (1644, 1648,1652), respectively, which convey expressions (E1, E2, E3),respectively. In this example, the location of a particular resource inthe set of expression advertisement air link resources 1620 and acorresponding resource in the set of expression broadcast air linkresources 1628 have the same relative position. In other embodiments,relative positions of corresponding resources may be different from anexpression advertisement interval to an expression broadcast interval,with the mapping being known to the access point and wireless terminals.

The broadcast signals from the expression broadcast interval signals maybe received and processed by the wireless terminals (WT 1 1604, WT 21606, WT 3 1608). A pair of individual wireless terminals may besituated, e.g., due to terrain, obstructions, etc., such that they maybe unable to successfully receive and recover directly each other'suplink expression advertisement interval signaling. However, it is morelikely that a wireless terminal will be able to successfully communicatewith access point 1 1602, e.g., due to access point 1's antenna locationand/or access point 1's receiver/transmitter capabilities which aretypically better than those of a wireless terminal. Thus informationsent up in expression advertisement interval 1618 by a wireless terminalis more likely to be successfully recovered by other wireless terminalsvia the downlink expression broadcast interval signaling communicated bythe access point. In addition, it may be observed that there aremultiple individual expression advertisement air link resources whichoccur concurrently during expression advertisement interval 1618. When awireless terminal is transmitting its own uplink expressionadvertisement signal it is unable to recover expression advertisementsignals from other wireless terminals which may be transmittingconcurrently. The use of the expression broadcast interval 1626facilities recovery of expressions from other wireless terminals whichmay been be scheduled to use time concurrent resources in the expressionadvertisement interval.

The example of FIG. 16 illustrates an access point, e.g., base station,which echos back information received in expression advertisement airlink resources in corresponding expression broadcast interval air linkresources. Such as access point may be viewed as a dumb access point. Insome other embodiments, the access point interprets bits of informationreceived in the expression advertisement interval and selectively relaysinformation in the expression broadcast interval 1626. Such an accesspoint may be viewed as an intelligent access point. In some embodimentsin which the access point makes selection decisions regardingrebroadcast of received information in the expression broadcastinterval, the size of the expression advertisement interval air linkresources and the size of the expression broadcast interval air linkresource may be, and sometimes are, different.

FIG. 17 illustrates an exemplary expression advertisement air linkresources block 1708 and one or more corresponding expression broadcastinterval air link resources blocks (1760, 1762). Drawing 1700 of FIG. 17illustrates an exemplary frequency vs time plot for an uplink. Drawing1700 includes a vertical axis 1702 representing frequency, e.g., OFDMtones, and a horizontal axis 1704 representing time. The plot 1700includes an expression advertisement air link resources block 1708 whichoccurs during expression advertisement interval 1706 in the uplinktiming structure. Drawing 1750 of FIG. 17 illustrates an exemplaryfrequency vs time plot for a downlink. Drawing 1750 includes a verticalaxis 1752 representing frequency, e.g., OFDM tones, and a horizontalaxis 1754 representing time. The plot 1750 includes a first expressionbroadcast interval air link resources block 1760 which occurs duringexpression broadcast interval 1756 in the downlink timing structure andan optional second expression broadcast interval air link resourcesblock 1762 which occurs during expression broadcast interval 1758 in thedownlink timing structure.

In some embodiments, information transmitted in expression broadcastinterval air link resources 1760 and 1762 by an access point is a copyof information received by the access point in expression advertisementinterval air link resources 1708. In some other embodiments, informationtransmitted in expression broadcast interval air link resources 1760 and1762 by an access point is a processed version of information receivedby the access point in expression advertisement interval air linkresources 1708, e.g., a selected subset of information received.

In various embodiments, the same information is transmitted by theaccess point in expression broadcast interval air link resources 1760and expression broadcast interval air link resources 1762. In someembodiments, there are additional expression broadcast interval air linkresource blocks in addition to blocks 1760 and 1762 corresponding toexpression advertisement air link resources block 1708.

The example of FIG. 17 illustrates that, in some embodiments, withregard to expression information the rebroadcast rate in the downlink ishigher than the uplink rate. The access point, typically a fixedlocation node using line power, may not be as power constrained as awireless terminal, e.g., mobile node, using battery power. An additionaladvantage of multiple rebroadcasts of received expression information isthat discovery operations by wireless communications devices tend to bespeeded up, e.g., peer to peer discovery operations tend to occur morequickly.

FIG. 18 illustrates an exemplary expression advertisement air linkresources block 1808, a corresponding expression broadcast interval airlink resources block 1860 and a neighbor expression broadcast intervalair link resources block 1862. Drawing 1800 of FIG. 18 illustrates anexemplary frequency vs time plot for an uplink of an access point.Drawing 1800 includes a vertical axis 1802 representing frequency, e.g.,OFDM tones, and a horizontal axis 1804 representing time. The plot 1800includes an expression advertisement air link resources block 1808 whichoccurs during expression advertisement interval 1806 in the uplinktiming structure. Drawing 1850 of FIG. 18 illustrates an exemplaryfrequency vs time plot for a downlink of the access point. Drawing 1850includes a vertical axis 1852 representing frequency, e.g., OFDM tones,and a horizontal axis 1854 representing time. The plot 1850 includesexpression broadcast interval air link resources block 1860 which occursduring expression broadcast interval 1856 in the downlink timingstructure and a neighbor expression broadcast interval air linkresources block 1862 which occurs during a neighbor expression broadcastinterval 1858 in the downlink timing structure.

Expression broadcast interval air link resources block 1860 carriesinformation received in expression advertisement air link resourcesblock 1808 by the access point or processed information based oninformation received in expression advertisement air link resourcesblock 1808 by the access point. Neighbor expression broadcast intervalair link resources block 1862 carries information that has been receivedby a neighboring access point in an expression advertisement air linkresources block of the neighboring access points uplink timing structureor processed information based on information that has been received bythe neighboring access point in an expression advertisement air linkresources block of the neighboring access points uplink timingstructure.

In the example of FIG. 18, a wireless terminal using an access point isable to recover expression advertisement information corresponding towireless terminals using the same access point via expression broadcastinterval air link resources 1860. In addition, a wireless terminal usingthe access point is able to recover expression advertisement informationcorresponding to wireless terminals using at least one neighboringaccess point via neighbor expression broadcast interval air linkresources 1862.

FIG. 19 is a drawing illustrating an exemplary communications system1900 including a plurality of wireless terminals (WT 1 1902, WT 2 1904,WT 3 1906, WT 4 1908), e.g., mobile nodes, and a plurality of accesspoints (AP 0 1910, AP 1 1912), e.g., base stations. The access points(1910, 1912) are coupled together via a backhaul network 1914.

In this example, WT 1 1902 and WT 2 1904 are currently registered withaccess point 0 1910 and each have an expression advertisement resourceindex identifier associated with dedicated uplink resources in theexpression advertisement resources for access point 0. Wireless terminal1 1902 may be currently in a sleep state or active state with respect toaccess point 0 1910. Wireless terminal 2 1904 may be currently in asleep state or active state with respect to access point 0 1910.

In this example, WT 3 1906 and WT 4 1908 are currently registered withaccess point 1 1912 and each have an expression advertisement resourceindex identifier associated with dedicated uplink resources in theexpression advertisement resources for access point 1. Wireless terminal3 1906 may be currently in a sleep state or active state with respect toaccess point 1 1912. Wireless terminal 4 1908 may be currently in asleep state or active state with respect to access point 1 1912.

Corresponding to the uplink at access point 0, there is an access point0 expression advertisement interval and access point 0 expressionadvertisement air link resources as indicated by dashed line ellipse1916. Wireless terminal 1 1902 transmits uplink expression advertisementsignal 1918 conveying expression E1 using its allocated dedicated uplinkexpression advertisement air link resource to access point 0 1910.Wireless terminal 2 1904 transmits uplink expression advertisementsignal 1920 conveying expression E2 using its allocated dedicated uplinkexpression advertisement air link resource to access point 0 1910.Access point 0 1910 forwards received expression advertisementinformation E1 and E2 via backhaul network 1914 to access point 1 1912.

Corresponding to the uplink at access point 1 1912, there is an accesspoint 1 expression advertisement interval and access point 1 expressionadvertisement air link resources as indicated by dashed line ellipse1922. Wireless terminal 3 1906 transmits uplink expression advertisementsignal 1924 conveying expression E3 using its allocated dedicated uplinkexpression advertisement air link resource to access point 1 1912.Wireless terminal 4 1908 transmits uplink expression advertisementsignal 1926 conveying expression E4 using its allocated dedicated uplinkexpression advertisement air link resource to access point 1 1912.Access point 1 1912 forwards received expression advertisementinformation E3 and E4 via backhaul network 1914 to access point 0 1910.

Corresponding to the downlink at access point 0 1910 there is an accesspoint 0 expression broadcast interval and access point 0 expressionbroadcast air link resources as indicated by dashed line ellipse 1928.Access point 0 transmits signal 1930 conveying expression E1 and signal1932 conveying expression E2 during the access point 0 expressionbroadcast interval using access point 0 expression broadcast air linkresources. Corresponding to the downlink at access point 0 1910 there isan access point 0 neighbor expression broadcast interval and accesspoint 0 neighbor expression broadcast air link resources as indicated bydashed line ellipse 1940. Access point 0 transmits signal 1942 conveyingexpression E3 and signal 1944 conveying expression E4 during the accesspoint 0 neighbor expression broadcast interval using access point 0neighbor expression broadcast air link resources.

WT 1 1902 receives signals (1932, 1942, 1944) and recovers expressions(E2, E3, E4) corresponding to WTs (WT 2 1904, WT 3 1906, WT 4 1908). WT2 1904 receives signals (1930, 1942, 1944) and recovers expressions (E1,E3, E4) corresponding to WTs (WT 1 1902, WT 3 1906, WT 4 1908),respectively.

Corresponding to the downlink at access point 1 1912 there is an accesspoint 1 expression broadcast interval and access point 1 expressionbroadcast air link resources as indicated by dashed line ellipse 1934.Access point 1 transmits signal 1936 conveying expression E3 and signal1938 conveying expression E4 during the access point 1 expressionbroadcast interval using access point 1 expression broadcast air linkresources. Corresponding to the downlink at access point 1 1912 there isan access point 1 neighbor expression broadcast interval and accesspoint 1 neighbor expression broadcast air link resources as indicated bydashed line ellipse 1946. Access point 1 transmits signal 1948 conveyingexpression E1 and signal 1950 conveying expression E2 during the accesspoint 1 neighbor expression broadcast interval using access point 1neighbor expression broadcast air link resources.

WT 3 1906 receives signals (1938, 1948, 1950) and recovers expressions(E4, E1, E2) corresponding to WTs (WT 4 1908, WT 1 1902, WT 2 1904),respectively. WT 4 1908 receives signals (1936, 1948, 1950) and recoversexpressions (E3, E1, E2) corresponding to WTs (WT 3 1906, WT 1 1902, WT2 1904), respectively.

In one example, (E1, E2, E3, E4) conveys information including locationinformation, e.g., GPS coordinates, corresponding to (WT 1 1902, WT 21904, WT 3 1906, WT 4 1908), respectively. Thus a wireless terminal isable to obtain the location of wireless terminals in their localvicinity corresponding to the same access point it is currentlyregistered with via recovering information from the uplink expressionadvertisement interval and downlink expression broadcast intervalcorresponding to its access point. In addition the wireless terminal isable to obtain the location of wireless terminals at a neighboringaccess point via recovering information from the neighbor expressionbroadcast interval.

Drawing 2000 of FIG. 20 illustrates an exemplary access point 0 2002,e.g., base station 0, and a plurality of neighboring access points(access point 1 2004, access point 2 2006, access point 3 2008, accesspoint 4 2010, access point 5 2012, access point 6 2014), which areadjacent access point 0 2002. The access points (2002, 2004, 2006, 2008,2010, 2012, 2014) are coupled together via a backhaul network. Thesystem including the access points also includes wireless terminals.Wireless terminals, e.g., mobile nodes, may move throughout the system,register with an access point in its local vicinity, and use that accesspoint. As part of the registration, the wireless terminal acquires anidentifier associated with a dedicated expression advertisement intervalair link resource at that access point. The wireless terminal maytransmit an expression over its dedicated expression advertisement airlink resource. The wireless terminal may use its acquired identifier inboth the sleep and active state with respect to the access point.

Drawing 2050 illustrates information describing intervals included in anexemplary timing structure used by access point 0 2002 and wirelessterminals currently using access point 0 2002. There is an uplinkexpression advertisement interval 2052, followed by a downlinkexpression broadcast interval 2054, followed by a downlink neighbor 1expression broadcast interval 2056, followed by a downlink neighbor 2expression broadcast interval 2058, followed by a downlink neighbor 3expression broadcast interval 2060, followed by a downlink neighbor 4expression broadcast interval 2062, followed by a downlink neighbor 5expression broadcast interval 2064, followed by a downlink neighbor 6expression broadcast interval 2066. Each one of the downlink neighborexpression broadcast intervals (2056, 2058, 2060, 2062, 2064, 2066)corresponds to a different access point (AP 1 2004, AP 2 2006, AP 32008, AP 4 2010, AP 5 2012, AP 6 2014), respectively, which are adjacentaccess point 0 2002.

A wireless terminal in the vicinity of access node 0 2002 and registeredwith access node 0 2002 may recover advertisement information from otherwireless terminal in the vicinity of access node 0 via monitoring theexpression advertisement interval signaling of interval 2052 and viamonitoring the expression broadcast interval signaling of interval 2054.The wireless terminal may recover advertisement information fromwireless terminals in the vicinity of the neighboring access points bymonitoring the neighboring expression broadcast interval signaling ofintervals (2056, 2058, 2060, 2062, 2064, 2066).

In this example, each of the neighboring access points to access point 02002 is allocated a separate neighbor expression broadcast interval. Insome embodiments, a neighbor expression broadcast interval correspondsto a plurality of different neighboring access points, e.g., adjacentaccess points.

In some embodiments, neighbors include access points within a range,e.g., a predetermined range, and information communicated in a neighborexpression broadcast interval may be from a neighbor which is not animmediate, e.g., adjacent, neighbor. In some embodiments, at least someneighbor expression broadcast intervals can, and sometimes do, includeinformation from a server, e.g., a social networking server or aposition tracking server.

FIG. 21 is a drawing 2100 illustrating an exemplary embodiment in whichan access point selectively forwards advertisement expressioninformation. The system of FIG. 21 includes a plurality of access points(access point 0 2102, access point 1 2104), a plurality of servers(server 1 2106, server 2 2108), and a plurality of wireless terminals(WT 1 2112, WT 2 2114, WT 3 2116, WT 4 2118, WT 5 2120). The accesspoints (2102, 2104) are, e.g., base stations. Server 1 2106 is, e.g. asocial networking server. The wireless terminals are, e.g., mobilenodes, which may move throughout the system and register with an accesspoint in its current local vicinity. The various nodes (2102, 2104,2106, 2108) are coupled together via a backhaul network 2110.

Consider that WT 1 2112 and WT 2 2114 are registered with access point 02102 and that wireless terminals (WT 3 2116, WT 4 2118, WT 5 2120) areregistered with access point 1 2104. During access point 0 uplinkexpression advertisement interval 2122, wireless terminal 1 2112transmits signal 2124 conveying expression E1 to access point 0 2102.During access point 0 uplink expression advertisement interval 2122,wireless terminal 2 2114 transmits signal 2126 conveying expression E2to access point 0 2102.

During access point 1 uplink expression advertisement interval 2128,wireless terminal 3 2116 transmits signal 2130 conveying expression E3to access point 1 2104. During access point 1 uplink expressionadvertisement interval 2128, wireless terminal 4 2118 transmits signal2132 conveying expression E4 to access point 1 2104. During access point1 uplink expression advertisement interval 2128, wireless terminal 52120 transmits signal 2134 conveying expression E5 to access point 12104.

Access point 0 2102 determines that expressions E1 and E2 should beforwarded to server 1 2106. Access point 0 2102 generates signal 2136,which conveys expressions E1 and E2 and transmits the signal 2136 overthe backhaul network 2110 to server 1 2106. Access point 1 2104determines that expressions E3 and E4 should be forwarded to server 12106 and that expression E5 should be forwarded to server 2 2108. Accesspoint 1 2104 generates signal 2138, which conveys expressions E3 and E4and transmits the signal 2138 over the backhaul network 2110 to server 12106. Access point 1 2104 generates signal 2140, which conveysexpression E5 and transmits the signal 2140 over the backhaul network2110 to server 2 2108. Server 2 2108 includes a processing module 2109.In some embodiments, information identifying the wireless terminaland/or user which sourced the expression (E1, E2, E3, E4, E5) isincluded in the signal (2136, 2136, 2138, 2138, 2140), respectively. Insome embodiments, information identifying the wireless terminal and/oruser which sources the expression (E1, E2, E3, E4, E5) is included inthe expression (E1, E2, E3, E4, E5), respectively.

Server 1 2106, e.g., a social networking server, includes a matchingmodule 2142. Matching module 2142 processes the received signals 2136and 2138 and determines that wireless terminal 1 2112 and wirelessterminal 3 2116 are members of the same group and are interested inreceiving advertisement expression information from each other. Signal2144, which conveys expression E3, is generated by matching module 2142and communicated over the backhaul network 2110 to access point 0 2102.Signal 2146, which conveys expression E1, is generated by matchingmodule 2142 and communicated over the backhaul network 2110 to accesspoint 1 2104.

During access point 0 neighbor expression broadcast interval 2148 accesspoint 0 2102 broadcast signal 2150 conveying expression E3. WT 1 2112monitors the access point 0 expression broadcast interval 2148 andreceives signal 2150 as indicated by dotted line arrow 2152, andrecovers expression E3. During access point 1 neighbor expressionbroadcast interval 2154 access point 1 2104 broadcasts signal 2156conveying expression E1. WT 3 2116 monitors the access point 1 neighborexpression broadcast interval 2154 and receives signal 2156 as indicatedby dotted line arrow 2158, and recovers expression E1. In one exemplaryembodiment expressions (E1, E2, E3, E4) include location information,e.g., GPS coordinates, corresponding to wireless terminals (WT 1 2112,WT 2 2114, WT 3 2116, WT 4 2118), respectively. In one exemplaryembodiment expression E5 includes shopping related information, e.g.,shopping preference information, pertaining to wireless terminal 5 2120.

In some embodiments an access point communicates a request to a serverindicating wireless terminals of interest and the server selectivelycommunicates a response including stored expression information which isavailable corresponding to the request which it has received. In someembodiments, the request information is stored at the server and usedfor matching purposes, e.g., should information from a wireless deviceof interest become available at a later time.

Any of the access points referred to with regard to FIGS. 14-21 may bean access point which implements a method in accordance with flowchart200 of FIG. 2 and/or flowchart 800 of FIG. 8 and/or is implemented inaccordance with any of the descriptions of FIGS. 3, 4, 9 and/or 10. Anyof the wireless terminals referred to with regard to FIGS. 14-21 may bea wireless communications device which implements a method in accordancewith flowchart 500 of FIG. 5 and/or flowchart 1100 of FIG. 11, and/or isimplemented in accordance with any of the descriptions of FIGS. 6, 7, 12and/or 13. Structures described in any of FIGS. 14-21 may be used in anyof the devices described with respect to FIGS. 2-13.

Various features of some exemplary embodiment will now be described. Anaccess point has an expression advertisement interval, e.g., a peeradvertisement interval, in its timing structure. During the expressionadvertising interval there are expression advertisement air linkresources. The expression advertisement air link resources include setsof communication resource units, e.g., sets of OFDM tone-symbols. A setof resource units, e.g., a set of OFDM tone-symbols of a predeterminedsize, is dedicated to each of the wireless terminals, e.g., peers,registered in the wide-area network at the access point.

The registered wireless terminals, e.g., mobiles, may use its dedicatedset of resource units in the expression advertisement intervalirrespective of whether it is operating in a sleep state or active statewith respect to the access point. The dedicated set of resource unitsallocated to the registered wireless terminal in the expressionadvertisement interval allows the wireless terminal to communicate arelatively small amount of information, e.g., 128 information bits, tothe access point. This information is communicated very efficiently withlow overhead using the dedicated set of resource units.

The expression advertisement interval recurs in the timing structure ata relatively high rate in comparison to the rate that a wirelessterminal in sleep state wakes up, e.g., wakes up to update pagingrelated information and/or to perform other operations. For example, anexpression advertisement interval may occur once per second, while thewake up from sleep state may occur once every 30 minutes or once perhour. The wake up from sleep state and subsequent communications caninvolve significant overhead signaling, e.g., access handshakingincluding closed loop timing and power control signaling,authentication, link establishment, acquisition of uplink trafficresources, and uplink of data in a traffic channel.

The registered wireless terminal transmits information in its dedicatedset of resource units of the expression advertisement interval. Forexample, the registered wireless terminal, in some embodiments,communicates information to update its location information.Alternatively, or in addition the dedicated set of resource units of theexpression advertisement interval are used, in some embodiments, by theregistered wireless terminal to communicate any other information, e.g.,any other low-latency, low-bit-rate information, to the access point.

In some embodiments, the dedicated set of resources dedicated to theregistered wireless terminal within the plurality of sets of resources,can, and sometimes does, vary over time from one expressionadvertisement interval to another expression advertisement interval inaccordance with a hopping function known to the access point and theregistered wireless terminal.

In some embodiments a wireless terminal acquires an expressionadvertisement resource identifier when it registers with an access pointand the expression advertisement resource identifier is good locally atthat particular wireless terminal while the wireless terminal remainsregistered at the access point. However, if the wireless terminal moves,e.g. hands-off to another access point, the wireless terminal registerswith the new access point and acquires a new expression advertisementresource identifier which is good locally at the new access point. Incontrast a wireless terminal may acquire a paging identifier which isgood in a paging area which includes a plurality of access points.

In some embodiments, different access points may have differentexpression advertising intervals and/or different rates of repetitionwith regard to the expression advertisement interval. In someembodiments, the amount of resources allocated to the expressionadvertisement interval in the WAN uplink timing frequency structure is afunction of the expected traffic loading at the access point, e.g., withfewer resources being allocated for the expression advertisementinterval where traffic loading is high. In some embodiments, the amountof resources and/or rate of repetition with regard to the expressionadvertisement interval is a function of the need for use of thoseexpression advertisement air link resources. For example, consider thatthe expression advertisement resources are used to carry locationinformation. The repetition rate may be chosen as a function of theexpected position change rate of wireless terminals using the accesspoint, e.g., if the access point is situated to cover the inside of ashopping mall where the wireless terminals change position rather slowlythe repetition rate may be low. However, if the access point is situatedto cover a region including a highway where the wireless terminals maybe in vehicles traveling at a relatively high rate the repetition ratemay be higher.

In some embodiments a wireless terminal, e.g., mobile node, may beregistered concurrently with multiple access nodes in its localvicinity. In such a situation the wireless terminal may transmitexpression advertisement information, e.g., location information, inmultiple expression advertisement intervals, each interval correspondingto a different access point in its neighborhood with which it iscurrently registered and has acquired dedicated expression advertisementair link resources.

Similar to the expression advertising interval, each access point alsohas an associated expression broadcast interval. During the expressionbroadcast interval there are expression broadcast air link resources.The expression broadcast air link resources include sets ofcommunication resource units, e.g., sets of OFDM tone-symbols. A set ofresource units, e.g., a set of OFDM tone-symbols of a predeterminedsize, is dedicated to each of the wireless terminals, e.g., peers,registered in the wide-area network at the access point.

The access point broadcasts the information obtained from the expressionadvertisement interval, for the benefit of wireless devices, e.g.,peers, that may be listening during the expression broadcast interval inthe downlink. In some embodiments, this information is a copy of theinformation received in the peer advertising interval. In some otherembodiments, the information communicated in the expression broadcastinterval is a function of information received in the expressionadvertisement interval. The structure of the expression advertisementinterval and expression broadcast interval in some embodiments areidentical. In some other embodiments, the structure of the expressionadvertisement interval and expression broadcast interval are different.

In some embodiments, different access points can have a differentexpression broadcast intervals. In some embodiments different accesspoint have expression broadcast intervals which repeat at differentrates. In some embodiments different access point have expressionbroadcast intervals which occur at different time times.

A registered wireless terminal, e.g., peer, including a sleepingwireless terminal, has knowledge of the timing of the expressionadvertisement intervals and expression broadcast intervals correspondingto the access point with which it is registered. In some embodiments,the wireless terminal has knowledge of the timing of the expressionadvertisement intervals and expression broadcast intervals of the accesspoints in its neighborhood.

In some embodiments an access point can choose to forward theinformation received in its expression advertisement interval to aserver. In various embodiments and access point can obtain expressionadvertisement information corresponding to other access points in itsneighborhood. The information can be obtained by the access point bylistening to expression broadcast intervals of other access points inits neighborhood and/or by receiving expression information communicatedfrom one access point to another via a backhaul network. In variousembodiments, an access point can transmit the advertisement informationobtained corresponding to a neighboring access point in a neighborexpression broadcast interval of its downlink timing structure.

One benefit of an exemplary method is that dedicated, low-latency,low-overhead channels are assigned to each of the wireless terminals,e.g. mobiles, wishing to participate in the expression advertisementmechanism, e.g. location update mechanism, including the wirelessterminals, e.g., peers, that are in the “sleep” state. This facilitatesefficient and scalable information dissemination, e.g., location updateinformation dissemination.

The techniques of various embodiments may be implemented using software,hardware and/or a combination of software and hardware. In someembodiments, modules are implemented as physical modules. In some suchembodiments, the individual physical modules are implemented inhardware, e.g., as circuits, or include hardware, e.g., circuits, withsome software. In other embodiments, the modules are implemented assoftware modules which are stored in memory and executed by a processor,e.g., general purpose computer. Various embodiments are directed toapparatus, e.g., stationary wireless nodes, mobile wireless nodes suchas mobile access terminals of which cell phones are but one example,access points, e.g., base stations, including one or more attachmentpoints, servers, and/or communications systems. Various embodiments arealso directed to methods, e.g., method of controlling and/or operatingwireless communications devices including mobile and/or stationarynodes, access points, e.g., base stations, server nodes and/orcommunications systems, e.g., hosts. Various embodiments are alsodirected to machine, e.g., computer, readable medium, e.g., ROM, RAM,CDs, hard discs, etc., which include machine readable instructions forcontrolling a machine to implement one or more steps of a method.

It is understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps in theprocesses disclosed is an example of exemplary approaches. Based upondesign preferences, it is understood that the specific order orhierarchy of steps in the processes may be rearranged while remainingwithin the scope of the present disclosure. The accompanying methodclaims present elements of the various steps in a sample order, and arenot meant to be limited to the specific order or hierarchy presented.

In various embodiments nodes described herein are implemented using oneor more modules to perform the steps corresponding to one or moremethods, for example, receiving information from a first wirelesscommunications device in a first uplink communications resource whilesaid first wireless communications device is operating in a sleep statewith respect to the access point, said first uplink communicationsresource being dedicated to the first wireless communications device;processing the received information, etc.

Thus, in some embodiments various features are implemented usingmodules. Such modules may be implemented using software, hardware or acombination of software and hardware. Many of the above describedmethods or method steps can be implemented using machine executableinstructions, such as software, included in a machine readable mediumsuch as a memory device, e.g., RAM, floppy disk, etc. to control amachine, e.g., general purpose computer with or without additionalhardware, to implement all or portions of the above described methods,e.g., in one or more nodes. Accordingly, among other things, variousembodiments are directed to a machine-readable medium including machineexecutable instructions for causing a machine, e.g., processor andassociated hardware, to perform one or more of the steps of theabove-described method(s). Some embodiments are directed to a device,e.g., communications device, including a processor configured toimplement one, multiple or all of the steps of one or more methods ofthe invention.

Some embodiments are directed to a computer program product comprising acomputer-readable medium comprising code for causing a computer, ormultiple computers, to implement various functions, steps, acts and/oroperations, e.g. one or more steps described above. Depending on theembodiment, the computer program product can, and sometimes does,include different code for each step to be performed. Thus, the computerprogram product may, and sometimes does, include code for eachindividual step of a method, e.g., a method of controlling acommunications device or node. The code may be in the form of machine,e.g., computer, executable instructions stored on a computer-readablemedium such as a RAM (Random Access Memory), ROM (Read Only Memory) orother type of storage device. In addition to being directed to acomputer program product, some embodiments are directed to a processorconfigured to implement one or more of the various functions, steps,acts and/or operations of one or more methods described above.Accordingly, some embodiments are directed to a processor, e.g., CPU,configured to implement some or all of the steps of the methodsdescribed herein. The processor may be for use in, e.g., acommunications device or other device described in the presentapplication.

In some embodiments, the processor or processors, e.g., CPUs, of one ormore devices, e.g., communications devices such as wireless terminalsare configured to perform the steps of the methods described as beingperformed by the communications device. Accordingly, some but not allembodiments are directed to a device, e.g., communications device, witha processor which includes a module corresponding to each of the stepsof the various described methods performed by the device in which theprocessor is included. In some but not all embodiments a device, e.g.,communications device, includes a module corresponding to each of thesteps of the various described methods performed by the device in whichthe processor is included. The modules may be implemented using softwareand/or hardware.

While various features are described in the context of an OFDM system,at least some of the methods and apparatus of various embodiments areapplicable to a wide range of communications systems including manynon-OFDM and/or non-cellular systems.

Numerous additional variations on the methods and apparatus of thevarious embodiments described above will be apparent to those skilled inthe art in view of the above description. Such variations are to beconsidered within the scope. The methods and apparatus may be, and invarious embodiments are, used with CDMA, orthogonal frequency divisionmultiplexing (OFDM), GSM and/or various other types of communicationstechniques which may be used to provide wireless communications links,e.g., WAN wireless communications links, between access points andwireless communications device such as mobile nodes and wirelesscommunications. The methods and apparatus may be, and in variousembodiments are, used with CDMA, orthogonal frequency divisionmultiplexing (OFDM), GSM and/or various other types of communicationstechniques which may be used to provide wireless communications links,e.g., direct peer to peer wireless communications links, betweenwireless communications devices including peer to peer interfaces. Insome embodiments the access points are implemented as base stationswhich communicate with mobile nodes using CDMA, GSM and/or OFDM. Invarious embodiments the mobile nodes are implemented as notebookcomputers, personal data assistants (PDAs), or other portable devicesincluding receiver/transmitter circuits and logic and/or routines, forimplementing the methods.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of operating an access point, the methodcomprising: receiving a first set of information from a plurality ofdifferent wireless communications devices in dedicated uplink resourcescorresponding to individual wireless communications devices, informationfrom an individual wireless communications device being received in adedicated uplink resource corresponding to the individual wirelesscommunications device, wherein said first set of information includesinformation transmitted by at least one wireless communications deviceoperating in a sleep state with respect to the access point; andtransmitting a first portion of the received first set of informationfrom the plurality of different wireless communications devices indedicated downlink broadcast communications resources corresponding tothe individual wireless communications devices.
 2. The method of claim1, wherein said first set of information also includes informationtransmitted by at least one wireless communications device operating inan active state with respect to the access point.
 3. The method of claim1, wherein said first set of information is received during anexpression advertisement interval.
 4. The method of claim 3, whereintransmitting the first portion of the received first set of informationis performed during an expression broadcast interval.
 5. The method ofclaim 3, wherein a dedicated uplink communications resourcecorresponding to an individual wireless communications device is a setof OFDM tone-symbols.
 6. An access point comprising: means for receivinga first set of information from a plurality of different wirelesscommunications devices in dedicated uplink resources corresponding toindividual wireless communications devices, information from anindividual wireless communications device being received in a dedicateduplink resource corresponding to the individual wireless communicationsdevice, wherein said first set of information includes informationtransmitted by at least one wireless communications device operating ina sleep state with respect to the access point; and means fortransmitting a first portion of the received first set of informationfrom the plurality of different wireless communications devices indedicated downlink broadcast communications resources corresponding tothe individual wireless communications devices.
 7. The access point ofclaim 6, wherein said first set of information also includes informationtransmitted by at least one wireless communications device operating inan active state with respect to the access point.
 8. The access point ofclaim 6, wherein said first set of information is received during anexpression advertisement interval.
 9. The access point of claim 8,wherein transmitting the first portion of the received first set ofinformation is performed during an expression broadcast interval.
 10. Anaccess point comprising: at least one processor configured to: receive afirst set of information from a plurality of different wirelesscommunications devices in dedicated uplink resources corresponding toindividual wireless communications devices, information from anindividual wireless communications device being received in a dedicateduplink resource corresponding to the individual wireless communicationsdevice, wherein said first set of information includes informationtransmitted by at least one wireless communications device operating ina sleep state with respect to the access point; and transmit a firstportion of the received first set of information from the plurality ofdifferent wireless communications devices in dedicated downlinkbroadcast communications resources corresponding to the individualwireless communications devices; and memory coupled to said at least oneprocessor.
 11. The access point of claim 10, wherein said first set ofinformation also includes information transmitted by at least onewireless communications device operating in an active state with respectto the access point.